Improved coal-loading apparatus



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SAMUEL S. ROBERTS, OF ELIZABETH, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 92,47 6, elated July l3, 1869.

IMPROVED COAL-LOAJDIN G- APPARATUS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom 'it may concern fication', vin which- Figure l is a perspective viewof my improved apparatus;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation, as formed by a vertical plane passing through the apparatus at right angles to the hoisting-drum; and

Figure 3 is a front elevation oa Gar inthe position for dumping its contents down the chute.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts 'in each.

My improved apparatus, while applicable to loading coal generally, is especially useful for that purpose where the coal is ou or contiguous to a navigable etream, by which, when loaded into barges, it is towed lto th'eplace of sale. or consumption. The stage of waterin 'such stream, between high andlow water, often varies several feet; and if the lower end of the chute, down which the coal is dumped into. the boat or barge, be fixed and not adjustable, the distance the coal will have to fall at low water will be so great-that the lumps will be broken and crushed, by which the `amount of slack or refuse material is largely increased,

and the value of the coal considerably lessened.

The object of my invention is to overcome this, and some other diriiculties connected with the discharging of coal from cars into boats or other receptacles,.by which labor is saved, and the work facilifated.

In theconstruction of devices'adapted Vto secure such results, consists the nature of my invention.

'lo enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I 'will proceed to explain its construction and manner of operation.

c b represent any suitable frame-work built on the bank of the river, at any suitable point,on which a track, a', leading from the coal-mine, terminates.

Near the forward part of the frame vB, is a trap or opmng, at the -npper part of which is a frame, af',

' carrying a pair of railsfaf. The forward vends of the rails care turned up, as shown, to a sled-runner shape, so as to stop the loaded car when run thereon. The frame a isadjustable up and down.

The chains f extend from it, on either side, over a drum, f', and its weight, and that of a loaded car, are couuterpoised, in whole or inpart, by a weight attached to the chain f.

The operation of the hoisting-drum j is regulated by a brake, g, of any suitable construction, and brake-v levers g' connected' therewith.

had to Athe accompanying drawing, making a part oft is speci- In order to regulate the vadjustment of the rails a,

as they descend through the trap, preparatory to discharging the coal from the car thereon, I attach to the rear end of the frame a, hooks c, which, when they reach the proper point of adjustment, engage the pins or rods c', previously adjusted for that purpose, in

holes in the upright-posts -b. At the forward end ofL the track a, 1 dispense with such means of adjustment. l'lhat end of thetrack continues to descend until the car is automatically unloaded, as presently to be described, when, being empty, the counterweight brings it up, and it isrun off to make way for a loaded car.

On the forward part of the frame b, and in front of the track a, is an adjustable chute d, hung, at its opposite ends, to the'roller c by chains c'. These rollers are operated separately or together, and held at any desirable point of adj ustment,'by levers, 'z'. To give it further support, and steady it in place, its rear end may' rest on across-bar, fl', passing through holes in the posts of the framevl), and adjust able higher or lower therein. Then, to adapt the apparatus for usein loading barges at low water, the chute d is lowered till, still retaining the inclination necessary for sliding the coal down, its lower and outer 'A end is suciently near the level of the barge. The pins c', which support the rear end ot' the trap-frame b, are also adjusted at such point 'that the forward end ofthe rails a will be at or near the upper end of the chute al, and still it will be inclined suciently to dump the coal o'ut of the open end of the car, as it rests thereon.

-To discharge automatically the contents of each car, I make the car x x with an end gate, m, hinged at its upper edge, and a fastening-bar, n, extending across its lower end, held in place by a catch, n'. lhe end of the fastening-bar n projects somewhat beyond the side ofthe car, so as, when the forward endof the car goes down on the trap-rails a, the.end of the fasteningbar n. will engage in a tripper, o, by which it will be loosened, the end gate opened, and the load discharged om the ear, which is tilted forward on the inclined trap-rails a, down the chute (l, and intothe boat or barge. If the stage of water be high,'the adjustments should be made accordingly.

It is often desirable to screen the coal before loading it into a boat for market, and hence I sometimes make the chute rl with screen bottom. 'The slack,

Svc., is thus separated from -the coal as it is loaded.

l Any suitable Weighing-apparatus may be combined with the devices described, so as to weigh the coal,

desirable elevation, and provided with hooks, c, which, and operated. substantially as and for the purposes set engaging a fixed pmt oft-he frame,prevent; the lnipple forth. :md car from swinging forward, end also provided with In testimony whereof, I, lche said SAMUEL S. ROB- zi 1ioisting-apparatus, substantially as described. ERTS, have hereunto set my hand.

2. A chute or screen, d, adjust-able so as to he raised Witnesses: SAMUEL S. ROBERTS. or in-ered at either end separately', or at both ends JOHN H. BAILEY, l

together, in combination with a tipple, a", constructed G. H. CHRISTY. 

